Sometimes you’re a high-class girl with a high-class Smartphone and other times you’re a poor but stylish hipster. I’ve got two smartphones the Huawei Mate 9 which is $600 and the Honor 6X which is also made by Huawei but only $250. If you want to make the decision that’s friendlier on your wallet, let’s […]

Sometimes you’re a high-class girl with a high-class Smartphone and other times you’re a poor but stylish hipster. I’ve got two smartphones the Huawei Mate 9 which is $600 and the Honor 6X which is also made by Huawei but only $250. If you want to make the decision that’s friendlier on your wallet, let’s find out what you’re giving up

As your read down the list comparing the different features of each Smartphone it’s easy to see why a phone that is 3 times the price easily takes it in pretty much category. What it’s important to note as you read through is that the Honor 6X isn’t a slouch

Design – Winner Mate 9

Just looking at the back it’ll be hard to tell which one is these is the midrange smartphone, the metal on both looks and feels premium. The Mate 9 has a unibody metal chassis and its design goes toe to toe with any smartphone on the market. The honor 6x has a metal back but its face isn’t quite as high end with it’s big bezels and display that’s just sitting on top and isn’t nestle inside the metal frame in quite the same way. It looks good, but it’s lacking a certain elegance.

Display -Tie

The displays are very different in size, 5.5 vs 5.9 but the body on the Mate 9 isn’t that much larger and the display itself isn’t as good, for the price a 1080p IPS display is also very good both have crisp, clear and colourful, with wide viewing angles but the LCD IPS just doesn’t quite have the same punch as an AMOLED display.

In terms of usability they are both quite bright and have good viewing angles, where the Mate 9 pulls ahead is the bezels around the display are tighter and more polished which makes me favor it.

Hardware – Mate 9

When it comes to build quality, I should be clear, that both of handsets are well-built tanks. The Honor 6X is midrange and has spec sheet that goes along with the price tag, it’s got a less powerful processor, RAM, storage and the battery is much larger on the Mate 9 as well. Though when we get to the battery life section you’ll be surprised to see how they compare.

The Mate 9 includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and the latest Galileo European GPS, the 6X tops out at 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and no Galileo.

We should also point out that the Honor 6X does not come with USB Type C, which in 2017 feels very behind the times.

Performance – Mate 9

Technically speaking I have to give performance to the Mate 9, when opening up Asphalt 8 or Mortal Combat X the Mate 9 opening the big games twice as fast. The Mate 9 also slays the Honor 6X which it comes to benchmarks.

But this is only half the story, if you don’t care about opening big games and just want a phone that opens Instagram and Facebook quickly, EMUI works well on both so everyday navigation is evenly matched.

Camera – Mate 9

Taking photos is arguably one of the Smartphones most key features and the moment when Smartphone usually show their true colors. On paper, we have two handsets have similar specifications, but the Mate 9 comes with Optical Image stabilization, OIS is key in taking better photos in low light and lets you focus on objects faster resulting in faster photos. We do notice this in terms of shutter speed, the Mate 9 was faster. Taking a look at the photos sometimes the Honor 6X feels a little washed out, but it’s actually not the Mate 9 has just over saturated their photos, which is actually pretty standard these days, the color accuracy I’d say is a bit close to the 6X, but the Mate 9 just feels like it offers more detail in the photos.

In the Mate 9, the RGB sensor is a 12-megapixel unit behind an f/2.2 lens with OIS and it’s backed up by a 20-megapixel black-and-white sensor, with a f/2.2 lens. This setup allows it to capture clear low-light shots while also picking up enough fine detail to implement a “hybrid zoom” feature.

The Honor 6X is the only budget phone at $250 that comes with a dual camera, but it’s not as high-end as the one on the Mate 9. The Honor 6X combines a 12MP camera on the back of the phone that’s paired with a 2MP wide-aperture lens. It allows you to blur the background of images for an interesting effect.

Digital Bokeh isn’t our favorite and you can see in both that the software doesn’t follow the edges often including or excluding parts fo the background.

Honor 6X

Huawei Mate 9

Honor 6X Action Shots

Huawei Mate 9 Action Shots

Side by side comparison photos betwee the Honor 6X & Mate 9

On the front, we have 8MP cameras which both perform quite well, like most we’re big on selfies and the performance is good and of course, there is the beautify mode which works the same on each.

Software – Mate 9

The Honor 6x is behind on the times when it comes to having the latest software, it’s only running EMUI 4.1 and Android 6.0 which is why you’ll see subtle differences in navigation and EMUI 5 give you the option the add an app drawer for those of you looking for more of a stock android feel there is much more customization. The older EMUI on the 6X doesn’t use an app drawer or make provision for handedness. There is no doubt that the software on the Mate 9 is more refined.

The major difference is that Android 7.0 has Doze mode which optimized battery life when the device was asleep, but the Home Screen, Notification Shade, App Drawer, Recent Apps and Twin apps are enough to make the software feel a lot more polished on the Mate 9.

Battery Life – Honor 6X

The Mate 9 has a much larger battery but the bigger display and more powerful processor are going to eat through that battery faster. It’s very interesting that though the Honor 6X has a smaller battery it gets better battery life than the Mate 9, it regularly gets me through a day and a half while the Mate 9 will just me through the day.

The Mate 9’s 4000mAh battery took 5 hours to drain from 100% to 20% percent, at which point the battery savings algorithms kicked in and required an additional 5 hours to drop to 10%.

The Honor 6X’s battery is 3340mAh, but that’s nothing to complain about. Our battery drain test took 7 hours to drop from 100% to 20%.

The Bottom Line.

When it comes down to it, the Mate 9 is the better phone, the photos are more saturated and offer a little more detail and its got faster reflexes, a better speaker for sharing music and a more refined design. But it’s over twice the price, so if you pick up the Honor 6X you’ve got bigger battery life and a decent enough camera. In terms of performance if you put it up beside today’s flagship Smarpthone you’ll see a difference, but if you’re upgrading from one of a last years (or two a two year old) phone you’ll think it’s great. If money is no object, obviously go with the Mate 9 but if you’re price conscious the Honor 6X is the way to go, and at this price point you can pick up next years model guilt free!

Lenovo has come out with a tablet and keyboard combination that looks a lot like the Microsoft Surface 4. we will tip our hat that they’ve done a polished and more refined job, but it does scream clone. Mobile Geeks was at the Intel press event at IFA 2015 in Berlin and took some side […]

Lenovo has come out with a tablet and keyboard combination that looks a lot like the Microsoft Surface 4. we will tip our hat that they’ve done a polished and more refined job, but it does scream clone. Mobile Geeks was at the Intel press event at IFA 2015 in Berlin and took some side by photos, keep reading to find out how they’re different.

The Lenovo Miix 700 packs in up to an Intel Core M7 processor, which unfortunately makes it a better match with the low-powered Surface 3 than the Surface Pro 3. It comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. When it comes to display you have a 12 inch 2160 x 1440 larger display while the Surface 3 comes in at 10.8 inches with a Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080). The Miix weighs in at 1.7 pounds which is lighter than the 1.95 pounds on the Surface 3.

The Camera on the rear is an significant upgrade since it’s a Real Sense depth sensing camera at 5MP which is the same resolution as the front facing camera. The Surface 3 checks in at 8MP on the rear and 3.5 on the front.
The kickstand and keyboard are the biggest improvement on the Surface 3 design, Lenovo is using the same watch band hinge that folds all the way back to 160 degrees giving you more viewing angles on the tablet, if you don’t have your keyboard you’ll be able to use the on screen keyboard since it folds all the way back to the furthest angle.
The keyboard on the Miix 700 has me itching to get a hold of one, it’s exactly what you expect from Lenovo, it actually feels like a real keyboard not a foldable one.

The Dell XPS 13 is the most beautiful device to hit the streets in 2015 and the Macbook (2015) is giving it a run for it’s money. The Dell XPS 13 is bezel-less with a 3200 x 1600 resolution display that blows the Macbook’s 2,304 x 1,440 even though the Dell comes in at 13.3 inches […]

The Dell XPS 13 is the most beautiful device to hit the streets in 2015 and the Macbook (2015) is giving it a run for it’s money. The Dell XPS 13 is bezel-less with a 3200 x 1600 resolution display that blows the Macbook’s 2,304 x 1,440 even though the Dell comes in at 13.3 inches it’s super-thin edge to edge boarder-less design makes it only a little bigger with a ton more screen real-estate and more pixels to boot!

We’ve long been fans of the Ultraportable form factor and what we have here today is a stunning 12 inch Macbook that is going to take on a larger in display size but not much larger in form factor Notebook with the Dell XPS 13. If you’re merely after a specification side by side, we’ll give that to you upfront. If you want to know what a Dell XPS 13 user thinks of the new Macbook, read on.

The Macbook Air hasn’t gotten much of an update since it was first launched back in 2008, but the Macbook is closest we’re going to get to that redesign, which is why Apple dropped the Air and the Pro and gave this Notebook with a few tablet tendencies a new category. Apple was able to make the Macbook (2015) so thin that it makes us think tablet because of Intel’s new Core M processor.

Dell has come out with something that’d we’d only seen in the past on Fujitsu notebooks that never left Asia. Their 13.3 inch display has a 5.2mm thick boarder and it’s aluminum design has a very durable in hand feel, much like that of the Macbook Air. Actually, when iFixit did a tear down, they found that the interior was actually very similar. When the lid is closed it looks just an 11.6 inch Notebook, but when you open it, you realize that they’ve fit a 13.3 inch screen in there.

Design wise the two devices are very different and we are actually comparing two very different devices that actually have no business going head to head. Beyond the aesthetic, under the hood, Dell’s Core i3 – i5 offering blows the Macbook’s Core M away.

Performance wise there is virtually no comparison, with the Macbook you are getting thinnest, battery life and enough performance for office applications along side your basic multimedia needs. If you need any kind of graphic performance in terms of video editing or gaming, you’re going to have to turn to Intel’s Core i series, Core M is aimed at your average user.

Display – Apple’s Got Nothing on a Boardless ‘Retina’ Display

Non Touch Matte Display Left. Edge to Edge Glass Touchscreen on the Right

Dell has just knocked it out of the park with it’s board-less infinity display, it doesn’t even matter that it has a way higher screen resolution than the Macbook (2015). The Dell measures in at 13.3 inches and 3200 x 1800 and the Macbook holds its own at 2304 x 1400, it does have a smaller 12 inch display giving it 226 pixels per inch the Dell is 276 ppi which even though it’s larger is much higher. This is a tough win to quantify, the eye is supposed to have a ppi limit but that is meant to happen above 300, so side by side the Dell should actually be sharper.

That isn’t to say that the display on the Macbook is a slouch, it just doesn’t win the spec race Apple started. One thing that does pull the ahead in terms of resolution battles is OS X is better at dealing with scaling, Windows 8.1 has only recently become less annoying at handling the higher resolutions. Chalk that up to Apple only having a few devices and Microsoft having to deal with a whole ecosystem.

The Keyboards – Apple’s Gone Edge to Edge & It’s Gorgeous

Dell has done a great job with their keyboard, it doesn’t take long to become used to the travel on the key’s and the keyboards design. What Apple has done with the Macbook is on a whole new level, their key’s 17% larger and each key has an induvidual LED which helped make the device thinner. The keyboard is edge to edge and we’re glad they did, HP delivered a similar experiences on their netbooks and it’s a shame they never took that innovation anywhere else. Kudos to Apple for making use of all the available surface area.

Butterfly Mechanism Adds Functionality to the Trackpad

The trackpad on the Macbook I can already tell you with out having used it that it is going to work a million times better than the Dell. The XPS 13 trackpad is a bit of disaster, it’s not great, it’s got dead spots and it’s tricky to use. It’s got two finger scroll down, but apart from that it needs work. It’s not unusable, but it’s not a pleasure to use. In the past Dell has issued driver updates but we’re still waiting. Apple has put in a Force Touch trackpad, which allows you to perform shortcuts when you put more force into a click.

Performance – Comparing Apples and Oranges

What we are comparing here are two different platforms, the Core M processor in the Macbook which is fanless and allows for the super thin design. Intel’s worked things so that you can perform the same tasks with the same performance as a Core i series processor, but while consuming much less battery. That’s who the Macbook can have such killer battery life while being so thin. The trade off is that Core M isn’t a graphics power house and this won’t be a problem for the majority of notebook users.

Graphics wise if you’d like to learn more about Intel’s Core M the Notebookcheck guys have done a very detailed analysis on Intel’s HD5300 graphics which both devices support. The bottom line is, if you are planning on doing any graphics work or gaming, you should consider the Core i series Macbook Air or the Macbook Pro. Both deliver higher performance in terms of graphically intensive activities.

Here is an excerpt from the overall NotebookCheck analysis:

Depending on the specific CPU, the maximum GPU frequency varies between 800 and 900 MHz. Due to the very low TDP, however, the average clock in 3D applications will be significantly lower. Therefore, the HD 5300 just barely outperforms the old HD 4000 or HD 4200, but requires much less energy for the same performance.

This means that the HD4400 graphics found in the 2014 Macbook Air, whose graphics have higher performance gains than the HD 4000 or HD 4200 discussed above. That’s not to say that the average user will be disappointed, but that the user of the Macbook (2015) shouldn’t have intense graphic requirements.

At first glance you might think that Apple is going to route of pushing proprietary connectors on you, and well you might be right, but USB C is the future and Apple just got there first. They’re able to reduce the number of ports on the device by having the ports they’ve included dfo everything. The Dell has 2 USB 3.0 ports, a full size SD card slot, display port, headphone jack and even a Kensington lock. This is great you have a lot of options for connectivity.

A single port to rule them all is what USB C’s claim to fame. It can handle up to 5 Gbps transfer speeds and this ability leads to the port also being able to handle HDMI & Digital AV Multiport as well as Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output. You’re going to need adapters for these activities, but in theory you’ll be able to use the USB C connector in any device (unless Apple does something special to the dongles they sell).

Pricing and Final Thoughts

This is a comparison of use case you’re going to go with the Macbook if you’re invested heavily into Apple’s ecosystem. You’re not going to have an SD card slot or USB port the person that won’t be driven mad with the need for adapters is one who is already using Apple’s cloud services and doesn’t do a lot of on the fly collaborative work (unless they’re the kind of person who never forgets their adapter pack or exclusively deals with other people who have macs). Using a single port for everything is living on the bleeding edge of the future. We are headed in that direction, Intel has a dream for the future that doesn’t involve any cords, including charging cables.

When it comes to pricing the Dell has variations that go from $799 running a Core i3, 1080p display without a touchscreen. But the 3200 x 1800 edition that put it in direct competition with the Macbook(2015) does edge up to the 1,299 price point making them in fact the same price. What you get with the XPS 13 is a no compromises device that has a ton of connectivity. The Macbook (2015) gives you portability, a great keyboard and stunning display.

It’s all about what you need from your device, but if you’re in the Apple ecosystem I’d go for the Air if you’re thinking of having this device be your only device. If you’re in the Windows world, the XPS 13 is an awesome device.

Apple’s 2015 Macbook (Sans Pro this time) is one sexy machine and we’ve decided to put it up against some of the tightest looking Windows laptops, the Samsung Ativ Book 9, the 12 inch version. We’ve long been a fan of the 12 inch form factor, pushing the size up from the standard 11.6 inch […]

Apple’s 2015 Macbook (Sans Pro this time) is one sexy machine and we’ve decided to put it up against some of the tightest looking Windows laptops, the Samsung Ativ Book 9, the 12 inch version.

We’ve long been a fan of the 12 inch form factor, pushing the size up from the standard 11.6 inch actually adds a level of usability when attempting to multitask and maximize your screen real estate. In the Windows world 11.6 inch devices haven’t gotten the same kind o specification love as Apple’s Macbook Air (if you’re after a comparison of the Macbook (2015) and the Macbook Air (2015), we’ve got that for you). But the 12 inch form factor hasn’t been ignored by Windows and Samsung who has long made some of the best built laptops on the market for the past few years now, actually beat Apple to the 12 inch fanless ‘Retina’ notebook.

Samsung has long made some of the best notebooks on the market, so that they came out with a 12 inch device with a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a brightness of 700nits already makes it a force to be reckoned with.

Samsung Ativ Book 9 Display

Apple’s Macbook is the newest addition to their line up and it’s 12 inch display is 2304 x 1440 and is super thin, 0.14 inches across it’s thinnest wedge (0.52 across the rear).

Macbook (2015) – Example of Retina display vs 1366×768 on the Air

Where the Macbook will fall ahead is potentially in display brightness. It’s not clear how many nits their display will offer, but they do claim that they will achieve the same level of brightness using 30% less power. This means their display should be around 300nits as that is what the Macbook Pro 2014 13″ edition measured in at. This means the Ativ Book 9 has the potential to be twice as bright and offer a matte display which would make it the superior device for outdoor visibility. There is also a slight size difference, the Macbook is 12 inches and the Ativ Book 9 12.2 inches.

Sticking to your Design Language

The Macbook (2015) has got Apple’s classic Air design but it’s thinner at its thickest point it’s just 13.1mm thin which is 24 percent thinner than the current 11-inch Macbook Air. The Samsung Ativ Book 9 has the same lines found in the series, but one huge difference, this one is made of aluminum. This is the first in the line to opt for a metal finish over plastic.

Design wise the Macbook seems to draw a little bit from the iPhone or iPad line with it’s rounder corners and it’s thinness really helps to drive home this comparison. The Macbook measures in at 11.04 x 7.74 x 0.14-0.52″ which is 13.1mm thick. The Ativ Book 9 is 11.19 x 8.37 x 0.46″ or a thinner 11.6mm.

The Keyboards

Samsung has never disappointed with their keyboards, the travel on they keys was always substantial and the spacing perfect. Apple has always delivered on their keyboards and have upped the ante a little by making their key’s 17% larger and as you can see in the photo, they’ve got a fantastic edge to edge keyboard design. HP has delivered similar experiences in the past on their netbooks and it’s a shame they never took that innovation anywhere else. Kudos to Apple for making use of all the available surface area.

There are some cool add ons that deserve a mention. The new MacBook comes with the new Force Touch trackpad, which allows you to perform shortcuts when you put more force into a click. The new butterfly mechanism on the keyboard also makes for a better typing experience. The MacBook Air also happens to have more bleeding light from the keys, as the new MacBook has a single LED light in each key, as opposed to using the same light source.

Performance – Ultra Thin Means Intel’s Core M

What both devices have in common is that they’re both running Intel’s Core M. It’s not like other comparison’s that we’re making between Core Series devices. Core M is a fanless and allows for the devices to be super thin, it also however, means that this is a cut on performance which you get back in battery life of course.

In a side by side however, since Apple’s Macbook comes with 8GB of RAM as standard, it will be snappier than the Ativ Book 9 that is sporting 4GB as it’s base configuration. And since it’s Apple was can only guess that they’ve done a better job at optimizing OS X than Windows 8.1 has. As a Windows Users I have to admit that the resolution scaling has only recently become less annoying, Apple would never let such glitches happen on their devices, that’s the beauty of only having a few devices to optimize for..Windows has an entire ecosystem of partners to try to wrangle in. We’re going to have to wait until the performance tests start coming in, but my gut tells me that the history of Intel’s work with Apple is going to yield some superior results.

Graphics wise if you’d like to learn more about Intel’s Core M the Notebookcheck guys have done a very detailed analysis on Intel’s HD5300 graphics which both devices support. The bottom line is, if you are planning on doing any graphics work or gaming, you should consider the Core i series Macbook Air or the Macbook Pro. Both deliver higher performance in terms of graphically intensive activities.

Here is an excerpt from the overall NotebookCheck analysis:

Depending on the specific CPU, the maximum GPU frequency varies between 800 and 900 MHz. Due to the very low TDP, however, the average clock in 3D applications will be significantly lower. Therefore, the HD 5300 just barely outperforms the old HD 4000 or HD 4200, but requires much less energy for the same performance.

This means that the HD4400 graphics found in the 2014 Macbook Air, whose graphics have higher performance gains than the HD 4000 or HD 4200 discussed above. That’s not to say that the average user will be disappointed, but that the user of the Macbook (2015) shouldn’t have intense graphic requirements.

Apple Pushing the Industry Forward with USB C

At first glance you might think that Apple is going to route of pushing proprietary connectors on you, and well you might be right, but USB C is the future and Apple just got there first. They’re able to reduce the number of ports on the device by having the ports they’ve included dfo everything. Samsung has 2 USB 3.0 ports which is good, you can connect an extra display and transfer documents quickly, but USB C can do so much more. USB C can handle up to 5 Gbps transfer speeds and this ability leads to the port also being able to handle HDMI & Digital AV Multiport as well as Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output. You’re going to need adapters for these activities, but in theory you’ll be able to use the USB C connector in any device (unless Apple does something special to the dongles they sell).

Pricing and Final Thoughts

Both brands are known of their exceptional keyboards, solid build quality and vibrant displays. Where Samsung pulls ahead in my books is that the display can often be found in matte which is great for outdoor visibility. When it comes to pricing, the surprising thing is that Apple actually is more competitive in terms of storage, the 256GB edition will cost you $1,299 while the Ativ Book 9 12″ costs you $1,399 on Amazon you can pick up a 128GB Ativ Book 9 for $1,199.

If you’re looking for a Windows equivalent of the Macbook (2015) you’ve got a fierce competitor here. The higher storage capacities on the Macbook could sway some people, but for me I might venture to the Macbook purely because of the USB C connector, as a technology journalist I’m curious to understand how things would change for me when I can’t plug in a USB anymore. The bridge between a new and old system is here, if you don’t want to live on that bleeding edge, then I would choose the Samsung Ativ Book 9. You’re either going to be all in all Apple’s cloud infrastructure or have to always have a USB C to USB adapter with you at all times…just in case.

Want to know how the new HTC One M9 compares to the Apple iPhone 6? Our Sascha takes a look at the two devices in the hands-on comparison video embedded below. We’ve also rounded-up the main specifications side-by-side. The sizing of the HTC One M9 and iPhone 6 is much the same but there are […]

Want to know how the new HTC One M9 compares to the Apple iPhone 6? Our Sascha takes a look at the two devices in the hands-on comparison video embedded below. We’ve also rounded-up the main specifications side-by-side.

The sizing of the HTC One M9 and iPhone 6 is much the same but there are significant differences in weight (the iPhone is lighter, and thinner) and in the screen specifications with the the One M9 offering Full HD.

iPhone 6 vs HTC One M9

Naturally there’s a huge difference between the operating systems and and ultimately that’s likely to drive most buying decisions. The model we tested had some rough edges on the camera software but that’s likely to be sorted out between now and the expected release date later in March.

The Xiaomi Mi Note has reached our doorstep and it’s time to put it head to head with the others. This happens to be a large device, so other phablets are naturally the first contenders to go. One of them is the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, a super-sized tablet with great specs. These are both […]

The Xiaomi Mi Note has reached our doorstep and it’s time to put it head to head with the others. This happens to be a large device, so other phablets are naturally the first contenders to go. One of them is the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, a super-sized tablet with great specs.

These are both Chinese manufacturers, so you know the fight will be fierce. Does the Xiaomi have what it takes to beat Huawei’s phablet, or will the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 come out on top? Let’s stop beating around the bush and jump right into the details.

Xiaomi Mi Note specs

5.7-inch 1920x1080p display

2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor

3 GB of RAM

16/64 GB of internal storage

13 MP rear-facing camera

4 MP front-facing camera

3000 mAh battery

155.1 x 77.6 x 6.95 mm

161 grams

Huawei Ascend Mate 7 specs

6-inch 1920x1080p display

Hisilicon Kirin 925 processor

2 GB of RAM

16 GB of internal storage

13 MP rear-facing camera

5 MP front-facing camera

4100 mAh battery

157 x 81 x 7.9 mm

185 grams

Design and build quality

The Xiaomi Mi Note comes with a sleek design and a construction that should keep it together for a long time, but Huawei takes this one with the Ascend Mate 7. This bad boy has a metal body that puts it right next to devices like the HTC One M8 and the iPhone 6.

The main difference here is the size, of course. While the Xiaomi Mi Note is one beast of a smartphone, the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 is even bigger! Huawei’s behemoth comes with a massive 6-inch display, while the Xiaomi Mi Note features a 5.7-inch panel. Huawe did a great job fitting such a large screen in a body that is as small as possible, but it is still bigger, and you will feel it.

Phone size is a matter of preference, so this one is your call. What I will say is that the Huawei Ascend Mate looks and feels much more solid.

Performance and software

The Huawei Ascend Mate 7 was released last year, therefore making it a previous-generation smartphone. Can it compete against the brand new Xiaomi Mi Note in terms of performance? Surprisingly, performance on both devices is pretty similar.

The Xiaomi Mi Note carries a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chip. Meanwhile, the Huawei Ascend Mate carries a Hisilicon Kirin 925 processor. We know most of you probably haven’t even heard of Hisilicon processors, so let’s put it into perspective – it’s equivalent to about a Snapdragon 800.

Witht hat in mind, it’s no surprise to see these devices performing so similarly. After all, the Snapdragon 801 wasn’t a huge update over the 800. The difference is really unnoticeable. Now, the Xiaomi Mi Note has 3 GB of RAM, which means it will be somewhat better than the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 and its 2 GB of RAM. At least in terms of multi-tasking.

Regardless, we have experienced nothing but great performance with both of these smartphones. Where Xiaomi does win is in the software department. They both sport Android, skinned by their very own UI interfaces, but the Xiaomi Mi Note comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Huawei’s Ascend Mate 7 is stuck in 2014 with its Android 4.4 build.

Display

Both devices have gorgeous displays with great color reproduction. But I can’t deny the huawei Ascend Mate 7 seems to represent more “true to life” colors. Xiaomi’s screen seems to be more saturated, which is something I actually prefer, but we know many of you want accurate colors.

Aside from hat slight difference, the only major differentiator here is the size. Huawei opted for a 6-inch 1080p IPS-NEO negative LCD. Xiaomi went with a 5.7-inch 1080p LCD panel. This all depends on size preferences.

Camera

Unless htere is some kind of variation or slight changes, these devices use the same rear-facing camera. This would be a 13 MP Sony BSI sensor with f2.0 aperture. Photos are just as great.

The only tru difference can be found when you turn the device around. The Huawei Ascend Mate 7 sports a rather powerful 5 MP front shooter. Switch to the other device and you will find it has a 4 MP camera, but it is no average 4 MP front-facing camera. It’s actually the same shooter you will find in the HTC One M7 and M8.

HTC calls it UltraPixel technology, and it is optimized for improving low-light photographs. I find that I like these photos better, even if Huawei’s shots are larger. Remember, good cameras are not about MPs, they are about sensor quality.

Battery Life

Well of course the Huawei Ascend Mate will win this one. We haven’t had the Xiaomi Mi Note long enough to tell you how good its battery life is, but we know Huawei will win this round. I mean, the Ascend comes with a whole extra 1100 mAh more than the Xiaomi Mi Note. They really knew how to take advantage of that large body and stuck a massive 4100 mAh battery inside.

Price and conclusion

Let’s get down to the meaty part. We are going to talk money now! Some say the world revolves around cash. We don’t know if that’s true, but we sure know its a big factor when choosing a new phone.

The Huawei Ascend Mate isn’t exactly cheap, and it hasn’t lost its value. It costs $599 from Oppomart, and you can find it for about $500 in some other places. This is where the balance switches towards Xiaomi’s side, as the Mi Note launched with a 2299 Yuan price point (about $370 USD).

The only thing Huawei really has going for itself here is the design, and I don’t think its looks are worth that much more. The Xiaomi Mi Note is an overall better device, anyways. Now, the hard part is getting a Xiaomi Mi Note, which sold out in just 3 minutes.

Those of us who would rather not wait will find that the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 is still an awesome device. When it comes down to quality and value, though, the Xiaomi Mi Note wins, hands down.

The Xiaomi Mi Note has been recently released and we just couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. Look forward to a review in the coming weeks, but we wanted to give you a little something before then. How about a comparison with its biggest contender, the iPhone 6+? Surely, those who have access […]

The Xiaomi Mi Note has been recently released and we just couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. Look forward to a review in the coming weeks, but we wanted to give you a little something before then. How about a comparison with its biggest contender, the iPhone 6+?

Surely, those who have access to Xiaomi smartphones will want to know which one is the better bet. Should you go with Apple’s iconic smartphones or should you opt for Xiaomi’s amazing prices? The war between Asia’s and America’s tech giants is about to start, so let’s put them head to head already! Which of these Godzilla’sized smartphones will come out on top?

iPhone 6+ specs

5.5-inch 1920x1080p Retina Display

1.4 GHz dual-core Apple A8 processor

1 GB of RAM

16/32/64 GB of internal storage

8 MP iSight camera

1.2 MP front-facing camera

2915 mAh battery

158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm

172 grams

Xiaomi Mi Note specs

5.7-inch 1920x1080p display

2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor

3 GB of RAM

16/64 GB of internal storage

13 MP rear-facing camera

4 MP front-facing camera

3000 mAh battery

155.1 x 77.6 x 6.95 mm

161 grams

Design and build quality

Apple is known for its gorgeous designs, and I will have to say it wins this battle in terms of aesthetics. That is not saying the Xiaomi Mi Note doesn’t look good, though. The Xiaomi Mi Note has a great construction and feels very good in the hand. The main difference here is that the iPhone 6+ features that metallic design that really helps it seem sleek and elegant.

That aluminum body also makes the iPhone 6+ seem stronger, but is it? As it turns out, the Xiaomi Mi Note has a more resistant construction. We have to point out that the iPhone 6+ is easily bent, which caused a big commotion during the first weeks of its launch. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi Note doesn’t suffer from the same issue.

We haven’t tried it yet (and won’t), but I am willing to bet the Xiaomi Mi Note is more likely to resist a good drop. And if it matters to you, Xiaomi’s smartphone also happens to be shorter, narrower and thinner, all while holding a slightly bigger 5.7-inch screen. Quite the accomplishment, if you ask us.

Performance and software

These are both considered high-end devices. They are both fast, powerful and snappy, so you won’t find a big difference when trying to compare their performances. What you will find is that the Xiaomi Mi Note is superior in terms of multi-tasking prowess.

And of course it is, it triples the iPhone 6+’s 1 GB of RAM. Xiaomi’s 3 GB of RAM translate to more apps being able to stay open simultaneously, something Apple’s devices are not known for being good at.

Now, it’s software where I can’t tell you which one is better than the other. It’s a matter of preference, really. Those who want a simple and clean interface will love what iOS has to offer. Meanwhile, the Ciaomi Mi Note sports all the customization and flexibility Android is known for.

By the way, Android 5.0 is pretty much as stable as iOS 8, and such is the case with the Xiaomi Mi Note when compared to the iPhone 6+. We have run across no hiccups or major bugs with the Xiaomi phablet, but we will definitely let you know if we do once we are ready to publish a full review.

Display

I will call this one a tie, unless you have a preference in screen sizes. The iPhone 6+ has a 5.5-inch display, while the Xiaomi Mi Note’s screen is slightly bigger at 5.7 inches. Move past the size and they have very similar displays, both featuring a 1920x1080p resolution.

We know screen quality goes way beyond pixel count, but even if Retina Displays are known for their higher quality, Apple has nothing on Xiaomi here. Both displays look just as good. It’s impressive how far color accuracy and reproduction has come with devices like the iPhone 6+ and the Xiaomi Mi Note.

Camera

This one is a hard one to drop a decision on. I have been a fan of the iPhone 6 camera from day one, and I can say no smartphone has quite been able to surpass Apple’s new smartphone camera yet. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has partnered with Sony to bring forth a high-quality 13 MP shooter.

Of course, this means the images will be larger than Apple’s 8 MP shots, but are they as good? We can tell you they get pretty close, at the very least.

The Xiaomi Mi Note is not giving this round to Apple, either. The front-facing camera on the Xiaomi Mi Note happens to be better than the iPhone 6+’s. The Mi Note actually sports HTC’s 4 MP UltraPixel camera, which is great for low-light shots and really takes advantage of a larger sensor. Meanwhile, Apple’s 1.2 MP front shooter stays behind.

Battery Life

We haven’t had the Xiaomi Mi Note long enough to put down a conclusion, but we can assume these perform very similarly in terms of battery life. After all, their battery sizes are nearly identical, with only 85 mAh of difference.

We will definitely let you know more in the review!

Price and conclusion

The battle was pretty heated! I would personally prefer the iPhone 6+’s camera and design, but the Xiaomi Mi Note doesn’t fall behind with its great build quality, awesome specs and the power of Android baked in.

Now, here is the real deal. Even if you did prefer the iPhone 6+, is it more than twice as good as the Xiaomi Mi Note? Not even close. In fact, I would say these two devices are really close to a tie, yet the Xiaomi Mi Note costs nearly half the price of the iPhone 6+.

The iPhone 6+ starts at $749 in the USA. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has released the Mi Note for a 2299 Yuan price, which is close to $370 USD. With that said, I will have to say that I would hand over my cash for the Xiaomi Mi Note any day. That is, if I could get a hold of one. As with any other Xiaomi device, this thing has flown out of the shelves.

When it comes to mobile, Apple is always the manufacturer to beat. We can agree or disagree on the winner, but there is no denying the industry looks at Apple as a standard. And with an 8-inch iPad Mini 2 in the market, a whole crowd of tablets is bound to try and take down […]

When it comes to mobile, Apple is always the manufacturer to beat. We can agree or disagree on the winner, but there is no denying the industry looks at Apple as a standard. And with an 8-inch iPad Mini 2 in the market, a whole crowd of tablets is bound to try and take down the Apple from its tree.

Among the most important 8-inch competitors we can find the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, a device that is leading the batch of Android tablets of its size. Can it go up against the almighty iPad Mini 3? Let us tell you right now it can definitely hold its own.

iPad Mini 2 specs

iOS 8

7.9-inch Retina Display (2048×1536)

A7 processor

1 GB of RAM

16/64 GB of internal storage

5 MP rear-facing camera

1.2 MP front-facing camera

6471 mAh battery

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact specs

Android 4.4

8-inch 1080p display

2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801

3 GB of RAM

16 GB of internal storage

8.1 MP rear-facing camera

2.2 MP front-facing camera

4500 mAh battery

Design, Form and Function – Sony is the Complete Package

Some will say there is no way to compare the iPad Mini 2 against the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact in terms of design. Apple is known for its great looks and I will have to agree that I do prefer the design of the iPad Mini 2. That is not to say the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is bad looking, though.

Both look great, they are just different. The iPad Mini 2 will offer that slim and now-classic Apple look so many of you love. The aluminum body also gives it a very sleek and solid feel. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is made of mostly plastic, but it’s good plastic.

The back of the Z3 Tablet Compact is much better for keeping away fingerprints, for example. Furthermore, that matte finish does look very good. There is one thing Apple jsut won’t be able to beat Sony on, though – resistance.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a mouth-full, but it is lighter, slimmer and it is waterproof. Sony wants you to take your tablet with you everywhere, just like the rest of their Xperia Z line-up. They realize devices have to be rugged, stylish and usable in a world where stuff happens. You might not be the kind of person to take your tablet in the pool, but if you get caught in a rain storm you can be sure that your device won’t care.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact comes with IP67/68 certification, making it water and dust resistant. You can literally take this tablet for a swim. Apple simply can’t match that. In fact, many of us would agree that Apple’s products tend to be pretty delicate to the elements.

Display – Trying to Keep Up with Retina

The one thing that Apple does better than everyone else is packing their devices with top notch displays. The iPad Mini 3 definitely tops Sony in terms of resolution. The Retina name comes packing a 2048x1536p resolution, while Sony has opted for Full HD, or 1920x1200p resolution.

There is no two ways around it – the iPad has a much sharper and vibrant display. Sony boasts Triluminus display technology, but though it is a good display that allows you to customize the termperature, it just isn’t as good. It’s not far off and if you didn’t have them side by side, humming and hawing about which one was best, you’d be perfectly happy. But facts are facts and Apple has yet to be knocked down when it comes to display quality.

Performance and software

Top of the range specs are found in each device. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact sports a quad-core 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a generous 3GB of RAM. It’s fast and responsive.

The Apple iPad mini has a 64-bit A7 chipset and M7 motion coprocessor which is also very fast, if you are just surfing the web. Opening apps and consuming media is fast in both tablets, though. Which is faster in hand? ……………………

If you want to look at benchmarks to determine speed.

TABLET

APPLE IPAD MINI 2

SONY XPERIA Z3 TABLET COMPACT

Geekbench 3

2,516

2748

Sunspider

408.1

3D Mark Ice Storm Unlimited

14,361

GXFBench 2.7 T-Rex HD Offscreen

25fps

27.7fps

Basemark X (onscreen / offscreen)

13.2/15.6

Linpack

870

There is no doubt that the Apple A7 processor is better, but you do have to ask your self what you are doing. If you are video editing, using iMovie, or rocking out with Garage Band, Apple has the lead in terms of apps that are optimized for the hardware. This type of usability doesn’t even compete with anything that’s currently available on Android. In gaming, however, Sony believes in the platform so much that they offer Remote Play from Playstation.

We’ll get into gaming shortly. Architecture-wise, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor offers 32-bit architecture and the A7 offers 64-bit, so Apple’s chip is more future-friendly.

Camera

Sony, like Apple, is well known for their awesome cameras. On the Z3 Tablet Compact you’ve got a 8.1 MP rear-facing camera with a 2.2 MP front-facing snapper for selfies and video calls, and the rear camera can shoot video in 1080p.

The Apple iPad Mini has a 5 MP camera on the rear and a 1.2 MP shooter on the front. Like Sony’s device, the main camera is capable of 1080p video recording.

Sony’s camera does not have as many bells and whistles as their smartphones, which are 4K capable, but you do get picture in picture (or Face in), slow motion at 120fps and Multi Camera mode where you can link up a few Xperia devices to show a single scene from a few perspectives.

The iPad camera hasn’t gotten an upgrade since the first generation, it’s still rocking the same the 5MP f/2.4 rear-facing camera. Having said that. Though it has a lower resolution, it seems to have better low-light capabilities and the photos look better in auto. Sony has a better camera that does take better photos, but Intelligent Auto doesn’t seem quite as sharp.

Take a look at some samples right below.

iPad Mini 2 photo samples

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact photo samples

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact Has A Few Things the iPad Doesn’t

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has a few things that the iPad Series doesn’t have. They are all features that I love having on a tablet, but your average Joe might not find them necessary on a tablet. A microSD card slot allows users the capability of expanding their storage, should they need it at any given time. With the iPad you have to pay for what you think you’re going to need. The cost of storage is dropping every 6 months, if you plan on keeping your tablet for a long time it’s a lot more cost efficient to upgrade by MicroSD card.

It is a bit of a debate whether or not waterproof on a tablet is the way to go. On a smartphone it’s a 100% necessity, but some argue that tablets are in less danger of being dropped in water. A friend of mine argued that if you’re using the tablet at the pool or beach, you should be doing something else.

Personally, I’ve used tablets at the pool and beach. I like reading magazines on the larger screen; plus I’m not using up my smartphone battery. The other scenario is if you’re caught in the rain and your bag gets soaked through. Waterproof is the future. The only downside is that when you seal the device it’s more expensive to open it up, since you need to re-seal it again. But hopefully the fact that it’s waterproof will stop you from having to open it up in the first place.

Sony has added magnetic charging to its Xperia line. Since they’ve covered the ports with a seal, it is a bit of a pain to open them up all the time. Adding this feature is premium, though I do have to wonder why they haven’t gone with wireless charging. (If you want an update on the standards race in Wireless charging, I actually just attended the Wrieless Charging Forum here in Taipei.)

The iPad does have dual speakers, but they aren’t front-facing. They are both around the same volume, the Xperia being a little louder. In terms of quality the iPad comes ahead, the very thin dimensions of the Xperia just don’t allow it to have the same depth as the thicker, metal iPad. Having said that, the sound going in the direction of your face, and not having to turn it over screen down to listen to it is an added bonus.

Battery life

While the iPad Mini has a much bigger battery, it can seem to squeeze that much more juice compared to the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. In our texts, we usually struggle to get the iPad Mini 2 to last 11 hours. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact usually lasts 10:15 hours.

In summary, they are comparable, the Mini allowing to sneak in an extra show if you need to, but we have to give it to the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact wins because it has a significantly smaller battery (4,500mAh vs 6471mAh), meaning it’s better at managing it.

Conclusion

Of course, the final decision depends on how you prioritize your features and specs. Those who prefer a simpler interface, metal build quality and more accessory availability will definitely want to side with the iPad Mini 2.

Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact also has a lot to offer. This includes better battery life, water resistance, the beloved Android OS, an improved camera and much more RAM memory. The design may also be more to your liking.

Today we bring you what must surely be one of the most highly anticipated comparisons of the year; the iconic iPhone 6 Plus and the OnePlus One. These two devices share a great deal in common and also have plenty of stark differences, not least of all when it comes to price as the OnePlus […]

Today we bring you what must surely be one of the most highly anticipated comparisons of the year; the iconic iPhone 6 Plus and the OnePlus One. These two devices share a great deal in common and also have plenty of stark differences, not least of all when it comes to price as the OnePlus One is at least half the price of the Apple device. Can the OnePlus one compete? Read on for the Mobile Geeks head to head comparison of the iPhone 6 Plus and the OnePlus One.

OnePlus One: Renowned Killer of Flagships

The OnePlus one can rightly be regarded as the nemesis of all flagship devices. Billed as a true Flagship smartphone killer, the One packs all the hardware goodies that you would expect from a top tier device, yet retails for a fraction of the price. The Chinese startup has aggressively pushed its way into the smartphone arena with a following and fan base that now borders on cult status, and in our mind, rightfully so. It is a stunning phone.

The build of the device actually pretty incredible, with a 5.5 inch display that appears to just sit on top of a thin chrome frame. The display itself is the same size and resolution as the iPhone 6 at a Full HD 1920 x 1080, although of course it is not blessed with Apple’s proprietary Retina technology. We know that Apple have pretty much ruled the roost for some time when it comes to stunning displays, but to be fair the JDI-made OnePlus screen is also very good.

In terms of internal processing, the OnePlus One does not shirk, but brings a heavyweight Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 to the party, probably the top mobile chip of 2014. The performance of the 801 is great, and it’s also great to see that performance backed by a whopping 3GB of RAM. In terms of cameras the OnePlus One gives you a 13MP Sony Exmor IMX214 sensor that has an f/2.0 aperture and a solid dual LED flash. The quality of the camera is very good, but in fairness it is not quite in the same league as Samsung, Sony and Nokia. Apple will win in the camera department for sure, but the overall performance is solid, if not bleeding edge.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus: A Heavyweight Contender

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus is a beast of a smartphone and a pretty BIG departure from previous Apple designs in many respects, not least because of its considerably larger frame. At 158mm in length, it really is on of the largest devices out there. Compared to the OnePlus One at 152mm, it does start to feel like Apple could have reduced the top and bottom bezels of the device just a touch. The 6mm difference in length is a significant difference when it comes to popping in and out of your pocket, and of course screen navigation with the tumb, especially when you consider that both devices have the same 5.5 inch display.

In terms of performance we know that Apple is very, very good at optimizing its hardware and software, and this is in part possible due to Apple developing their own breed of processor, namely the Apple A8. The A8 is an ARM v8 based dual-core SoC clocked at 1.4GHz that integrates graphics technologies from PowerVR. We have not attempted to compare the chip to the competition just yet (no easy task btw), but from we see out on the interweb, the chip has plenty of game.

When it comes to design and build, the iPhone 6 Plus is a very impressive device and certainly competes well with any other phone out there, including the OnePlus. The uni-body aluminum design feels great. It’s solid (and doesn’t bend would you believe…) and has a finish that attracts no fingerprints. In terms of weight, it is a little heavier than the OnePlus at 172 grams (compared to 162 grams on the One). When it comes to cameras however, the iPhone 6 Plus is real heavyweight. The 8MP rear camera might not sound like a world beater, but from what we have seen so far, it’s an absolute gem. More on that when we bring you a fuller camera comparison article.

What of Pricing?

One major difference between the devices is of course price. The OnePlus One has consistently made a habit of putting other main brand products to shame when it comes to the cash you have to spend, and this is also the case with the iPhone 6 Plus. The Apple device may be ahead when it comes to displays, cameras and other aspects in a head to head comparison, but when you factor in price, a different picture emerges.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. For all its high-end appeal, does the Apple iPhone 6 Plus warrant its $850 price tag?

iPhone 6 Plus vs OnePlus One: Comparison Video

Check out our comparison video below, for a full and detailed look at these two fantastic smartphones:

When it comes to flagship smartphones of late, many users may feel that things have gotten out of hand (literally) when it comes to screen sizes, as most of today’s top crop actually stray beyond 5 inches, a size that would have been considered very larger just a year or so ago. But do not […]

When it comes to flagship smartphones of late, many users may feel that things have gotten out of hand (literally) when it comes to screen sizes, as most of today’s top crop actually stray beyond 5 inches, a size that would have been considered very larger just a year or so ago. But do not fret, manufacturers like Sony and LG are aware of this and also similar designs in a slightly smaller package. The LG G3 S and the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact to two examples of this. Today we make a side-by-side comparison of these two smaller contenders to help you guys get a grip on what’s going on. Mobile Geeks compare the Xperia Z3 Compact and the G3 S:

LG G3 S: Pros and Cons

The LG G3 is a wonderfully crafted 5.5 inch Android smartphone that has inspired LG to produce the smaller and slightly more affordable LG G3 S. While the G3 S has the look and feel of its larger flagship brother it has in fact had a considerable re-make, one that includes a much lower resolution display, an inferior processor and a toned down camera. None of these changes make the LG G3 S more attractive. There are some potential advantages however that could be used to justify LG’s component choices.

The LG G3 S is based around 5 inch screen at 720p resolution, this makes it not only a smaller device compared to the big brother that inspired it, but the vastly lower resolution removes issues related to heat and battery consumption. The lower resolution display also means that there is less pressure on the processor, especially if we consider the sheer number of pixels the G3 has to manipulate compared to the G3 S. So there is a logical reason to opt for the lower performing Snapdragon 400. Fewer pixels means much less work for the graphics processing part of the processor.

Other specific features on the LG G3 S include a 8MP camera that includes LG’s signature laser auto-focus, a feature which does help it on low light and offers one of the fastest auto-focuses we have come across. The LG G3 S also uses another feature which we must also refer to as ‘signature LG’, and that is the position of the power button and volume rocker on the back. It may take some getting used to, but once you have, you may find it preferable to side edge placement.

The overall software experience on any current LG Android smartphone is excellent. The styling is top notch and easily the equal of Samsung, HTC or Sony. The layout of menus is very well thought through and there are plenty of intelligent options for one handed use, customization and a very strong software package that stays well from being bloatware.

Overall the LG G3 S is a very attractive smartphone that could win you over for several of the reasons outlined above. Check out our full review of the LG G3 S below.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact: Good things in Small Packages

The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a slightly different take on a very classy flagship elder brother, the Xperia Z3. It comes in a considerably smaller 4.6 inch form, but Sony has attempted to make sure that users of the Z3 Compact will experience no inferiority complex. Upon learning that the Z3 Compact has a lower resolution 720p display, you may be tempted to give up hope, but don’t be fooled. Despite having fewer pixels, this panel is one of the best we have seen. The viewing angles are awesome, colors are vibrant and well presented, and the brightness levels are off the chart.

When it comes to performance, the Z3 Compact holds nothing back. using the same Snapdragon chip that we came to respect on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and other true flagships – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, a quad core SoC that kicks some serious butt, especially in graphics performance thanks to its Adreno 330 GPU. You also get 2GB of RAM which is fantastic to see on a smaller device where many (including LG) have opted for 1GB.

Corning Gorilla Glass is not present on the Z3 Compact, but you do get a tempered glass front with tough plastic on the back. Actually the very dense and durable plastic feels very similar to glass in most respects, and not like plastic. The Compact is also water and dust resistant to IP68 which is great to see too.

The build quality and design are very similar to the flagship Z3, but what will surprise most people is that the camera is pretty much identical. You are getting the same 20.7MP camera, wide lens and 1/2.3 sensor that blew us away on the Xperia Z3. This is ‘no compromise’ photography from a smartphone perspective, and certainly one of best camera experiences you can have. One other place where the Sony Xperia Z3 really excels head of the G3 S is in terms of battery life, with the possibility of getting perhaps as much as three days of regular usage with needing to charge.

Make sure you check out our full review of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact below.

Head to Head Conclusions

These are two truly exceptional smartphones, and in all honesty we could happily recommend either of them. The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact will cost anywhere between $30-$50 USD more than the LG G3 S, which is not surprising considering its superior camera, processor and battery life. The LG is still a fantastic smartphone however, and one that has a unique button placement design and exceptional software. Let us know in the comments below which ticks all the boxes for you.

For an in-depth look at these two devices in video form, be sure to watch our comparison video below: